Dog Food: What NOT to Feed

Foods That Shouldn't Be Dog Food

Over the years, I’ve owned hundreds of dogs and have used several different types of dog food. And no, I’m not a dog hoarder. I’ve been a small breeder, though, and when you consider the litters of puppies, the numbers add up quickly. For example, my golden retriever and lab produced forty puppies in four litters, and I’ve also bred Brittany spaniels, English pointers, wolf hybrids, and Great Danes. Needless to say, I’ve been through a lot of dog food.

Currently, I have two Great Danes, and they’re the first dogs I’ve ever had living in my home on a full time basis. I’m retired, so I’m home with the two furkids just about 24/7. It’s been very easy for me to spoil the pooches, especially when it comes to dog food. Of course, their main source of nutrition is an actual commercial dog food, but they really prefer human food, as do many canines. Hamlet and Grendel will eat just about anything that’s remotely edible, with Grendel’s being the worse culprit. Hamlet will occasionally turn something down, but Grendel never does. For example, I was grating some raw zucchini the other night, and G-dog begged for some. I thought for sure once he tasted it, he’d spit it out, but he didn’t. In fact, he loved it and begged for more.

Foods that are good for humans and other animals don’t always make good dog food. Some are actually toxic for dogs, and a few can even be fatal. I got the following information from my veterinarian, a man with 50 years of experience as a licensed vet. That being said, from my personal experience, I think some dogs can devour practically anything without any negative consequences. Just to be on the safe side, however, take a look at the foods below that do not make good dog food!

one of my "grandpups" | Source

The seeds of apples and some other fruits can be toxic to dogs.

Apple Seeds

Apples can be great treats for your dog, but make sure it doesn’t eat the seeds. Apple seeds contain a type of cyanide called “amygdlin,” and as you know, cyanide is powerful poison. If your pup has kidney damage, don’t give it apples at all. The phosphorus and other minerals in the apple flesh won’t be good for a dog with kidney disease. When feeding apples to a healthy dog, be sure to slice the fruits first and remove all the seeds.

Apricot Pits

Like apple seeds, apricot pits contain cyanide and can poison your pooch. Of course, you probably wouldn’t directly feed your pet apricot pits, but if the whole fruits are within reach, the dog might help himself to a serving or two. Most dogs love to chew and have powerful jaws, so they might be enticed to chew and break open the pit because it’s covered with sweet pulp. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning include drooling, lethargy, vomiting, and weakness.

Keep your furkid away from the guacamole!

Avocado

All parts of the avocado contain persin, a fungicidal toxin. Some types of avocados contain higher levels of persin than others, so if you’re unsure, it’s best not to feed your dog any avocado at all. Persin can cause vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, and swelling of the abdomen, chest, and pericardium.

Alcohol

Keep your beer, wine, and liquor to yourself! Even moderate amounts of alcohol can cause pooch problems, including central nervous system disorders, vomiting, tremors, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, and even death. Remember that your dog probably weighs considerable less than you, so even a small amount of alcohol could equate to a large serving for your dog’s body weight.

Baby Food

It’s tempting to turn leftover baby food into dog food, but read the label first. This might surprise you, but some baby foods contain onion powder, which is harmful to dogs.

Be careful about adding liver to dog food.

Liver

Small amounts of beef liver and liver from other animals are usually okay to add to your dog food, but don’t overdo it. In large amounts, liver can cause a condition known as “vitamin A toxicity.” Symptoms include stiffness, weight loss, constipation, lethargy, limping in the forelegs, and loss of appetite.

Bones

Dog owners have fed their pets bones for years, but it’s a bad idea. For a long time, large bones were considered safe, but not anymore. According to the latest warning from the FDA, no cooked bones are safe for canine consumption. For one thing, bones splinter pretty easily and can cause damage to the intestines and perforations to the stomach, leading to life-threatening peritonitis. Pieces of bone can also become lodged in the esophagus, the windpipe, the stomach, or the intestines. Even if none of these happen, your dog could still suffer minor injuries like cuts to the mouth, gums, or tongue, along with broken teeth.

Coffee and canines - a bad combination.

Caffeine

Avoid giving your dog anything that contains caffeine. This includes coffee, tea, chocolate, and colas and other caffeine-laden soft drinks. Caffeine can cause rapid heartbeat, irregular heart rhythms, muscle tremors, bleeding, and rapid breathing. Too much caffeine can kill a dog, and it doesn’t take much to be “too much.” Be extremely careful with caffeine and canines – there’s no antidote.

Cat food is NOT dog food!

Cat Food

Cat food is different than dog food. The feline digestive system and dietary requirements are different than those of canines, and cat food is too high in fat and protein for dogs, in general. If Fido sneaks a sample of Fluffy’s food from time to time, it probably won’t hurt him, but it definitely shouldn’t be substituted for a healthy dog food.

Cherry Pits

Cherry pits contain cyanide. Refer to “apricot pits” above.

Avoid "treating" your dog to chocolate - especially dark chocolate.

Chocolate

Chocolate is very dangerous for dogs, on several levels. For one thing, the high amounts of fat included could cause pancreatitis. Also, the caffeine in chocolate can be dangerous for the reasons listed above. Even worse, chocolate contains theobromine, a potent diuretic and cardiac stimulant that can lead to severe dehydration, and if left untreated, can result in death.

Don't add cow's milk to dog food.

Citrus

Citrus contains large amounts of citric acid, along with oils that could be harmful for your dog. Concentrations are usually higher in the seeds, leaves, peels, and stems. If your pooch consumes large amounts of citrus, it could cause gastrointestinal upset and depression of the nervous system.

Cow's Milk

Some people think they’re providing their dog a healthy meal when they cover their dog food with cow’s milk. Unfortunately, to properly digest milk, a sufficient quantity of an enzyme called “lactase” is needed. Most dogs don’t produce enough lactase to consume large amounts of milk, ice cream, cheese, and other dairy products, resulting in gas, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Fats and Oils

Just like humans, dogs need a little fat in their diets. If you look at the label on your bag of dog food, you’ll see some type of fat listed. The problems arise when your dog gets too much fat. In that case, pancreatitis can occur. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas and can be deadly.

Garlic

Don’t feed garlic to your dog or add it to your dog food. Large amounts of garlic, in all forms, can be toxic to canines. It changes red blood cells and makes them less able to deliver oxygen to the body. This could result in anemia, which can sometimes be severe.

NEVER feed dogs grapes or raisins!

Grapes

Never feed your dog grapes! Don’t give them the dried version, raisins, either. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage and even kidney failure in canines, and sometimes it doesn’t take many of the fruits to be harmful or even deadly.

Macadamia Nuts

Mace

Mace, a popular spice, is made by drying and pulverizing the covering of nutmeg seeds. In large quantities, mace can cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and nervousness in dogs.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is made from nutmeg seeds. While usually harmless for humans, it can be deadly for dogs. Freshly ground nutmeg contains myristicin, an organic compound that can a neurotoxic effect on cells. Myristicin poisoning can cause nausea, dehydration, heart palpitations, and convulsions. Avoid using custards, eggnog, pies, and other human food flavored with nutmeg as a dog food or dog treat.

Onions

Don’t give your dog onions in any form. That includes seasoning his dog food with onion powder. The thiosulphate in the onions alters red blood cells and can ultimately cause the cells to rupture. Watch for symptoms like lethargy, diarrhea, bloody urine, vomiting, lack of appetite, and breathing difficulties.

Peach Pits

Peach pits contain cyanide. See “apricot pits.”

Persimmon Seeds

Ingesting persimmon seeds can cause enteritis in dogs. Enteritis is the inflammation of the small intestine. Symptoms include dehydration, fever, and abdominal pain.

Plum Pits

Refer to “apricot pits.”

Raw Eggs

Some people add raw eggs to dog food, but this isn’t a good idea. Uncooked eggs contain avidin, an enzyme that prevents the body from absorbing necessary amounts of a B vitamin called “biotin,” symptoms of biotin deficiency include hair loss and skin problems.

Raw fish doesn't make good dog food.

Raw Salmon

Uncooked salmon and other fishes can cause a vitamin B deficiency in canines. More specifically, the B vitamin involved is thiamin. Symptoms of thiamin deficiency include lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, and in some cases, death. When you feed your dog cooked fish, be sure to remove the bones first.

Walnuts

Walnuts can cause gastroenteritis in canines, as well as harmful side effects from large amounts of phosphorus. See “macadamia nuts” above.

Xylitol

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found in chewing gum, candy, and other sugar-free products. In dogs, xylitol can make their blood glucose level plunge, which could result in weakness, nausea, vomiting, and even liver failure.

Grendel thinks everything is dog food!

Other Foods

There are several spices that have been reported to cause problems in dogs. These include turmeric, paprika, and anything containing capsaicin, including black pepper, red pepper, chili powder, and fresh peppers. Even if your doggie is convinced that it’s a Cajun, resist spicing up its dog food with any of these ingredients.

The best dog food is balanced.

The Best Dog Food and Dog Treats

The best dog food for your furry friend is one that contains balanced amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The best dog treats are safe and healthy. If you're not sure about your dog's specific nutritional requirements, consult your veterinarian. He can advise you about any special needs your dog might have and perhaps recommend the best dog food to meet those needs.

Comments

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Author

Holle Abee 5 weeks agofrom Georgia

Cheryl, turmeric can be beneficial for most dogs, but it can cause allergic reactions in some. It's best to introduce it gradually in order to see how your pooch tolerates it.

Cheryl 5 weeks ago

So I guess you’re not an advocate of “the golden paste” (tumeric with ground black pepper and coconut oil) for arthritis.

Haggai 2 months ago

All my years ive been feeding them the wrong stuff. Good thing i know now thanks to you. im just lucky they haven't got sick up to now. im gonna have to start buying them that dog food they hate so much lol!

Heidi 6 months ago

Miss Holle, I think you should check your information for validity before scaring the public with your false statements. You mention in your article that Tumeric is bad for dogs, when all literature on the internet (including that for my personal vets) state that it's actually highly beneficial for dogs. As well, many pet products include garlic in their recipes because it's also beneficial for dogs. Of course like with anything large amounts of garlic are not good for your dogs. But, whose going to feed their dogs a bunch of garlic cloves. Adding a small amount to dogs food or buying products that have it in their ingredients (dog food, treats...) is perfectly ok.

I've been working in the pet care industry for over 20 years, advising my clients of the foods that are good and bad for them. I would never say something was bad unless I had clear proof of this.

Heidi

Diego 2 years ago

My dog has used turmeric and black pepper for 9 years. Perfectly fine. As well as raw eggs and uncooked ground bones.

Kayla 2 years ago

The thing about bones is ABSOLUTE horse shit, bones are great for your dog and raw bones will not splinter! Bones are a great way of giving your dog calcium, (depending on the bone) cartilage/gelatin, and the marrow from a marrow bones is great for them as well, it helps their teeth and everything clearly the person that thinks dog bones for a pet isn't a good idea is stupid (sorry guys), one of the causes for cancer in dogs is lack of eating bones, rant over....

Ania 3 years ago

Much of your article makes a lot of sense. The only thing is that you also mention the possible dangers of feeding turmeric, black pepper, chili powder etc. Am interested in learning more about this as I have heard much (mainly anecdotal) evidence of the benefits of turmeric, black pepper etc. Could you please reveal your sources? Thanks

D. Lemaire 4 years agofrom Arizona

Interesting, I knew about the chocolate and grapes and citrus and onion. I generally try to avoid giving him anything that is "human food". I've seen other dogs get some pretty weird food sometimes, going from whipped cream to marshmallows and grapes and left over cereal milk! I never understood that...

iguidenetwork 4 years agofrom Austin, TX

Thanks for your very informative and useful article. I may have fed my dog some of the foods you mentioned without being aware of their potential dangers.

Finder1 4 years ago

Another scare tactic!

Please, write all the facts about Garlic, Tumeric, Capsicums etc before dumping untruths on us out here?

Yes, SOME of those things you listed WILL harm our pets but as in all things in life, in moderation!

Bones?! nothing wrong with dogs or cats even, eating bones as long as 'THEY ARE RAW BONES AND NOT COOKED IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM THAT WILL CHANGE THEIR STATE FROM RAW TO COOKED IN DEFINITION'

Bones must be Raw for them to eat.

In your speel above about bones, you did not differentiate as to what sort of bones you refer to.

Cooked bones? Yes, avoid like the plague!

'...According to the latest warning from the FDA, no bones are safe for canine consumption...'

What a load of crock!!! If your dog or cat is not used to eating bones and has not been feed the occasional bone, then there is part truth in what you quote there.

Before us so called 'know what is better than what GOD intended' came along and invented dry kibble and processed food for our canine and feline friends - they ate a diet of raw food and bones and have done so for thousands of years.

In nature wild dogs and cats eat raw bones - No mother dog or mother cat back home in their den or lair slaving over a hot stove or frypan cooking pappa his dinner, was there?.

It is we humans (who again, think we know better) who introduced our pets to cooked bones and food!

Way too much historical evidence and FACTS that show raw bones (and raw food for that matter) for dogs and for cats IS not only good for them but is a better healthier choice for them.

Look what we have done to our pets since the early 1940's - created a multi billion dollars Veterinary industry that has hit ever hip pocket of pet owners who has or have had their dog or cat on cooked or processed foods .

In the wild they didn't experience dental problems, food allergies or any of the insidious man caused diseases some of our pets have suffered as a result of food that has been prepared by commercial concerns - all in the name of convenience

For you other readers out there, do you own research and find out the facts, for yourself - don't believe everything you read on first opening the page - research it!!

Thanks for the interesting read and comments posted.

Victoria Lynn 4 years agofrom Arkansas, USA

Great hub, Habee. I know about most of these except the spices. Good to know. Thanks!

Bill 4 years agofrom western pennsylvania

Great Hub. When my house was being built I had some friends help. They used to bring Beer in cans and bottles. I used to have a German Shepherd that loved to walk by a can or bottle and knock it over with his tail. Then lick it up. He would try to make it look like an accident I could never break him of the habit. Must have been something in it that he liked. It never seem to hurt him.

Hi habee - thanks so much for this great hub! I just didn't know there were so many things we should NOT feed our dog. I would like to link to this hub from my chocolate hub where I mention never feed dogs, cats and horses chocolate. I just love animals especially dogs and cats that I would feel terrible to harm a pet for careless feeding habits.

Up and awesome.

Dr Mark 5 years agofrom The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil

Wow, that would make anyones list!

Author

Holle Abee 5 years agofrom Georgia

Hi, Dr. Mark. I know you weren't trying to be critical, and I appreciate your input. Like I said, I'm just about convinced that a few canines can eat ANYTHING with no ill effects! I once had a wolf-shepherd hybrid who ate a string of Christmas lights and some fiberglass insulation, and it didn't bother him a bit. lol

Dr Mark 5 years agofrom The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil

Sorry I was not trying to be critical as I thought the overall article was good

However, even 50 years of anecdotal experience is no always enough. Just keep an open mind. NO ONE knows why or how grapes are toxic, and it can not even be reproduced in the lab

Author

Holle Abee 5 years agofrom Georgia

Well, guys, I'm just basing it on what three vets told me. And one of them has over 50 years of experience. He' s taken good care of my critters for decades, and I totally trust him. I do think, however, that some dogs are more sensitive to the foods mentioned than other dogs might be.

Dr Mark 5 years agofrom The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil

Nice article, no proof on garlic however, just another story because of its similarity in looks to onion

undrgrndgirl 5 years ago

meh...garlic and onion are in many, many, many commercial dog foods - especially the expensive ones! ...as is avocado (avoderm anyone?). i have had dogs who have eaten onions, garlic, grapes, hot peppers...and all manner of table scraps. all lived long happy lives.

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Many thanks, grin!

grinnin1 6 years agofrom st louis,mo

Wow- what an informative hub, I learned a lot that I didn't know before. I am definitely bookmarking! Great hub as always-

50 Caliber 6 years agofrom Arizona

Holle I appreciate your concern and I was blessed with the care of two young ladies as were my critters and need to do a hub of thanks to their commitment to dropping their lives to come and help me during that time, as it made a world of difference for me and my animal pack during my surgery and healing. I sold off some holdings to help these young ladies re-establish a home in Sacramento, California after they got cabin fever here being isolated during the months of my healing. I need to check out your links and take some time to read and possibly contribute. I've been sked by several others with blogs and they told me join in no rush and then tried to rush me, so you can guess how that went I bet, LOL. I'm slow but steady, so I won't promise but I will try. I've got you in my email and have to check on facebook [I use a little, maybe once a week] so I'll just try as hub pages keeps me busy trying to read all and my typing is a sad 20 wpm, so I need to work on that and try using two hands LOL.

Wild bore is a bit sweeter than farm raised and depending on the kill and immediate meat care can alter how it turns out. That is a hub right there. I have so many topics and type so slow. I'll try and hit on that topic in the future.

Peace, Blessings and Love,

Dusty

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Dusty, I made a 1:10 bleach and water solution and dabbed it on the ringworm.

You know, my friend, you're one of the most fascinating people I've ever known! I have a survival and living off the land blog, and I'd love you to be a guest blogger! You can link back to one of your hubs, if you wish. You can find the link to the blog on my profile page. I haven't done a lot with it because I've been so busy with HP and my cooking site. Speaking of that, I'd love one of your wild game or other recipes on there!

How does the boar meat taste? I've eaten wild gilts, but never a boar. We've killed our own hogs before that were "rigs" - a castrated male who wasn't fully castrated because of a testicle that didn't descend, and the meat smelled terrible when I cooked it.

BTW, have you seen my "best venison recipe ever" on my cooking site? It's a recipe my aunt came up with years ago, and it's awesome!

So glad you're feeling better. I've been worried about you!

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Thanks, Mrs, Rao!

50 Caliber 6 years agofrom Arizona

Holle, I used apple cider vinegar, it requires a little scuffing of the skin or if I see the bugger a under skin, I use a short insulin needle and put a shot of the apple cider under the skin and it kills the bug. It stings a bit as well.

Before some one cries "inhumane" or not "Sterile", I HAVE and DO use this treatment on my self, successfully getting rid of chiggers as well as killing a skin tag the usually are found under the armpit and other skin rubbing areas. I have killed the growth of skin moles in the same manor with 1 to 2 applications.

Holle, I'm following the doctors orders and am really grateful for the success of having "Pig Heart Valves" working like original equipment and feeling pretty good these days gearing up for a 4 state trip this fall on probably my last big hunting trip for Deer, Elk, Antelope, and wild bore in California on the Eel river and a place called Spy Rock where the 400 pound plus Russian bores are found. I've got 6 huge 200 quart I think "Igloo coolers to pack tagged meat in with 10 pounds of dry ice for shipment back to a meat house here to keep it at 40 degrees until I get back and start butchering, processing the meat for freezer, jerky, sausage, Pemmican, pepperoni, bologna logs, and I'm forgetting something but it is all going to be used. I bury the selected bones in dirt with earth worms to clean them off, then lay them out and get them sun-bleached, making bone wind chimes to sell. No bones for the dogs. I bought 2 mini cameras that shoot 60 frames a second and will mount in the front of my hat and on the dash for a police type dash cam with sound so I'm looking forward to trying to make video backed hubs on hunting. each will run 2 hours on battery and the cards hold up to 6 hours each and the dash cam will go all 6 hours while plugged into the charger. I think it will be fun. All 5 dogs are going along and maybe an Apache friend from the White River Reservation here in Arizona

How do you use the bleach solution?

How are you?

Blessings and love,

Dusty

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Hi, Dusty! I always love hearing from you! Bless you for helping those homeless dogs. Yes, I read your hub about brewer's yeast and commented on it. It's funny, fleas and mosquitoes rarely bother me, but they love my husband.

BTW, have you ever had a dog with ringworm? One of mine had it, and we took him to the vet and bought some expensive shampoo, which didn't get rid of it. I did some research and made up a weak bleach solution that cured the problem!

Hope you're taking care of yourself!

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Thanks, howcure!

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Vydy, are you sure you hadn't rather have a Great Dane?? They're AWESOME dogs! Thanks for reading!

Thanks so much, Clover! Yep, I can imagine poor Major had quite a tummy ache after consuming all the lard!

mrs rao 6 years ago

Thanks for the information

50 Caliber 6 years agofrom Arizona

Holle, an interesting and useful article. I find it contained a number of things I was not aware of, but not a problem since it is not even consumed by me. The only exception is I have switched with great success from chemical flea and tick prevention to a tablet of brewers yeast with garlic, 1 for each 10 pounds of weight in general. I can't remember if you read and commented on my hub on that topic or not. No contention implied as it is like you mentioned, moderation is key in most things eaten for dogs as it is for humans. I eat home made breads with brewers yeast or sourdough starter and I use garlic in much of my meat preparations. I've been able to run dang near naked in southern mosquito swarms all the way to them in Northern California to South East Asia and never could tell folks why the buggers don't feed on me, including fleas, and ticks. I never to my knowledge ever had a tick latch on, even when working deer or other animals that were covered in them. I know believe it may be connected to food type consumption. I don't know for sure.

A good article for thought in that arena and like you I have had literally 100s of hounds pass through my hands, having to de-flea and de-tick many of the poor starving dumped dogs.

Your thoughts on my new [over a year or two] prevention with these tablets, is welcome, I'm going back as you may have commented and my old head just don't recall.

Thanks for the information, as I revere your knowledge here. Blessings, Dusty

Elena@LessIsHealthy 6 years ago

great hub

vydyulashashi 6 years agofrom Hyderabad,India

I was just planning to get a Rottweiler! Thank god your hub was right on time for me. Very useful and informative.

God Bless You!

mocrow 6 years agofrom Georgia

Great info on BAD dog food. Now if only I can explain it all to my pooch!

drbj and sherry 6 years agofrom south Florida

Thanks, Holle, for your extensive research and easy-to-understand information about what not to feed a dog. What a long list!

I was particularly surprised about the no-no's regarding milk, raw eggs and onions. Who knew?

Cloverleaf 6 years agofrom Calgary, AB, Canada

Hi Habee, you are a very good person for sharing all this information! What a great dog-owner you are.

I remember as a kid our dog Major jumped up on the kitchen counter and grabbed a pack of lard. He had a very sore tummy after that little feast.

I'm voting this one UP UP UP! Every dog-owner should have this information.

Cloverleaf.

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Les Trois, I know exactly what you mean! I think some dogs have "cast iron stomachs," while others don't. I've had dogs that could eat practically anything without any problems. On the other hand, I've had a few dogs that would get sick when I changed from one brand of dog food to another.

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Howdy, Leah! Most dog folks don't recommend using rawhide because of choking issues and the potential for intestinal blockage. I must admit, however, that I've given my dogs rawhide treats before and have never had any ill effects.

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Inspired, I don't think the barking issue has anything to do with the dog food (or cat food) your pooch is consuming. Have you tried an electronic collar that delivers a mild "tingle" when the dog barks? I wrote a hub about using shock collars. I know that some dog enthusiasts don't like them, but they worked wonders for our dogs. Hubby adjusted the "shock" so that it was more of a surprise than it was of pain. He actually tried it on himself before using it on the dogs. And by the way, he and the dogs weigh about the same, so we figured the results of the "shock" would be about the same.

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

sholland, I have to keep my kitchen door closed when I'm cooking or prepping food. My Great Danes can reach everything on the counter, and they're always on "food patrol." Of course, they always think what we're eating is more interesting than their dog food.

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Brie, how in the world do you survive without having a dog in the family?? lol. I don't think I've ever been without a dog or two. I'd be lost without my two big boys!

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

I appreciate that, Scribe! Glad you find my list of no-no dog food helpful. After losing a horse to colic, I'm pretty careful about what I feed my dogs. In case you don't know, colic in horses is similar to bloat in dogs.

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Bizzy, good to know that my spotted boy isn't the only canine that likes zucchini! lol

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Hi, Cardisa. I sometimes add a little raw meat to dog food, but I make sure it's fresh, so I don't have to worry about salmonella. Thanks for reading!

Author

Holle Abee 6 years agofrom Georgia

Spice, thanks a bunch!

Les Trois Chenes 6 years agofrom Videix, Limousin, South West France

Oh dear, it's a wonder that Molly, our intrepid hunting dog, has survived. She eats (chews) peaches and their stones from the orchard, is fed apple cores, produces 'cherry stone neclaces' from the rear end having leapt one and half meters to steal the cherries from the tree. She loves our dinner scraps, always heavy on onions and garlic and she is a devil for stealing the cat's food whenever possible! Thanks for all this info but I think I'll just have to keep fingers crossed that she staggers onto a ripe old age despite all. Voted up.

Leah Lefler 6 years agofrom Western New York

Oh my goodness, Habee, I never realized bones could be dangerous for dogs! We have a golden retriever puppy and he has a bone we bought from Tractor Supply. Do you know if rawhide is OK, or is it bad for them, too? SO scary! I caught my son trying to feed the dog yogurt-covered raisins the other day and had a panic attack - fortunately I caught him in time (I had read about the raisin issues prior to this). I had no idea about apple seeds, garlic, etc. This is good information for doggie owners!!

Dale J Ovenstone 6 years agofrom Wales UK

WOW Habee you are a wealth of information. Glad I read your article as I have made some mistakes in what I provide to my dog. Garlic & Onions, there's a shock, I give it mine now & again but now, I shall stop pronto.

Please spread your article far & wide, incidentally, my woman feeds her dog constantly on pouches of cat food, but the problem with the canine is he never ever stops barking, we have tried various methods, the latest being a collar that vibrates or high pitched whistles but it has not worked, do you think it could be his diet as I am about to write a product review. I shall pass on this info to my lady.

Thanks for sharing. Regards Dale

Susan Holland 6 years agofrom Southwest Missouri

So many people feed their dogs anything, and it can be so dangerous. I have mini-Dachshunds, and they get their regular crunchy dog food. They love to stand at my feet when I cook. I snatch up everything I drop because I worry about how they might react to it. It is just not worth it. Great Hub! Voted up and awesome!! :-)

Don't freak out about the list. Most of the foods mentioned have to fed in pretty large amounts to cause damage. With some, however, it takes only a small amount to be very dangerous, like grapes, raisins, caffeine, and cyanide.

Brie Hoffman 6 years agofrom Manhattan

Thanks for the information. I don't have a dog right now but when I do I will definitely refer back to this article.

Scribenet 6 years agofrom Ontario, Canada

Thank you Habee for this! I had lost the list I used to have when I had a dog and couldn't remember all the bad foods. I will bookmark and pass it along to all my friends who have dogs!

bizzymom 6 years agofrom New York

Thanks for all of the useful information. I must say, I knew about some of the foods that a dog should not consume, but by reading this hub, I learned of quite a few more. Regarding the zucchini, I make a zucchini pie and my Yorkie loves it!

Carolee Samuda 6 years agofrom Jamaica

Hi Habee, what a comprehensive list. Wow! I am always scared about what I give my dogs but never knew half of what you mentioned. I want also mention that any uncooked meat for dogs can give the salmonella poisoning. Also if you give the dog cooked fish you have to remove the bones just like you would for a child.

Thanks Habee. I have to tell someone I know with an avocado tree why the dogs are always sick, they eat the avocados when they fall off the tree!

thisspice 6 years agofrom Asheville, NC

Another informative Hub! Thanks for all of the information!

Remy Francis 6 years agofrom Creative Zone Dubai

Gosh Habee!!! I am so scared for my family Golden retriever now! Thanks for this jam-packed hub of great tips!

In our part of the globe/city we have never had traditions of being sold commercial dog food and so are left without options because of no proper pet food store. Hence many feed their pets home-made food. And yes a lot of food meant good for humans.

I know the above which you have mentioned have not been fed to our Gypsy nor our older pets except the apple. And yes bones of fish which have softer bones (Gypsy seemed to like it.) She's quite healthy with rice and meat or fish given to her daily...

but I have wondered if there is something to do with our food habits for her and our other 2 dashchunds before Gypsy. All were females but we never could get them to litter inspite of all the measures taken. Now that's happening with Gypsy too. The Vet suggests that she suffers from a fertility disorder. That happened to our other two previous pets too. And now am wondering if the feeding habite has something to do with this disorder. Does not giving commercial dog food cause issues like this? Sorry it's a totally naïve question!